Chapter 1a- Basic structure of computer

Question 1

What is mySQL?

Answer 1

a database

Question 2

What Is Linux?

Answer 2

it is an operating system.

Question 3

Look at image on slide 3 of topic 1A notes

Answer 3

.

Question 4

What are some examples of operating systems?

Answer 4

windows,Linux,UNIX and Mac OS

Question 5

What are the basic functions of a computer?

Answer 5

Input, processing, output

Question 6

What are some examples of input component?

Answer 6

RJ-45 and usb

Question 7

what is a CPU?

Answer 7

it is the computer’s main processing component.It executes instructions from computer programs, such as word processors and from the computer’s operating system.

Question 8

What are some examples of output components

Answer 8

monitors,printers,storage devices,network cards, and speakers.

Question 9

What are the two main categories of storage?

Answer 9

long term storage(non-volatile storage)
short term storage(volatile storage)

Question 10

what is short term storage?

Answer 10

RAM(random access memory).RAM is also known as “working storage”.When the power to the computer is turned off, RAM’s contents are gone.

Question 11

What happens if there’s not enough RAM to run a program?What is the process like?

Answer 11

The computer will use disk drive to supplement.(virtual memory).Part of disk storage can be set as Virtual memory.CPU can only access data and code in RAM.Less used data and code are placed in virtual memory.Data and code needed by the CPU are moved to RAM.

Question 12

What is long-term shortage?(non-volatile storage)

Answer 12

It maintains its data even there’s no power.It is used to store documents and multimedia files, as well as application and OS files.Amount of storage needs depends on type and quantity of files stored.

Question 13

What are examples of long-term storage?

Answer 13

Hard disks
CD/DVDs
USB flash drives

Question 14

What is a computer bus?

Answer 14

a collection of wires carrying signals from one place to another on the computer.All data that goes into or comes out of the computer goes through the motherboard.

Question 15

Where are the buses between?

Answer 15

CPU and RAM
CPU and disk drives
CPU and expansion slots

Question 16

What are the computer bus fundamentals?

Answer 16

Data bus: used to carry data signals from main memory(RAM) to CPU and vice versa or from main memory (RAM) to input/output devices vice versa.

Address bus:used to carry address signals, example a memory location or port/interface where an input or output device is attached.

Control bus:used to carry control signals,example read or write, from CPU to memory or port/interface.

Question 17

What is the difference between address bus and data bus?

Answer 17

The data bus carries the data to be stored while the address bus carries the location to where it should be stored.

Question 18

What is polling and interrupt?

Answer 18

polling is when CPU keeps on checking the I/O devices at regular interval whether it needs CPU service. In interrupt, the I/O device interrupts the CPU and tells CPU it needs CPU service.

Question 19

why does polling and interrupt occur?

Answer 19

They handle the events generated by the devices that can happen at any moment while CPU is busy executing another process.

Question 20

What is a hard drive?

Answer 20

-primary long-term storage component on your computer
-Consist of magnetic disks called “platters” that store data in the form of magnetic pulses
-Stores the documents you use as well as the applications that open those documents
-Stores the OS your computer loads when it boots

Question 21

What is SSD?

Answer 21

Solid state drive.
-SSDs are used in place of hard drives,due to speed and reliability.
-SSDs use flash memory so -there are no moving parts and has faster access times
-More expensive than hard drives
-Most often found in mobile devices
-Also found in high-performance desktops and servers

Question 22

What is RAM?

Answer 22

RAM is the main short term shortage. RAM has no moving parts so accessing data in RAM is much faster
than accessing data on a hard drive.

Question 23

What is BIOS?

Answer 23

basic input output system.It is a programme that tells the CPU to perform certain tasks when power is first applied to the computer
One of those instructions is to perform a power-on self test (POST).

Question 24

What is CMOS?

Answer 24

complementary metal oxide semiconductor. When a computer boots, the BIOS program offers a chance to run
the Setup utility in order to configure hardware components
This configuration is stored in a type of memory called complementary metal oxide
semiconductor (CMOS)

Question 25

What is the computer boot procedure?

Answer 25

1. Power is applied to the motherboard
2. The CPU starts
3. The CPU carries out the BIOS startup routines, including
   the POST(Power-on self-test)
4. Boot devices, as specified in the BIOS configuration, are searched for
   an OS
5. The OS is loaded into RAM
6. OS services are started

Question 26

What is a NIC and what is its function?

Answer 26

network interface card.It creates and mediates the connection between a
computer and the networking medium
It contains MAC address(Media Access Control Address)
Unique identifier assigned to NIC
Networking medium might be copper wire, fiber-optic cable, or airwaves

Question 27

How do wireless NICs connect to the network?

Answer 27

Wireless NICs connect to network using service
set identifier (SSID).

Question 28

How must wireless NICs be chosen?

Answer 28

Wireless NICs must be chosen according to type of
wireless AP being used